trabajo pesado
/tɾabaxo pesado/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'grunt work' is translated into Spanish as trabajo pesado.
trabajo pesado is used to describe unrewarding work. While trabajo pesado can literally mean physically strenuous labor, it is also used figuratively to describe tedious or unrewarding tasks.
Meaning: unrewarding work (noun)
Which one should you use?
The term trabajo pesado can mean physically heavy work or, figuratively, the tedious kind of work associated with the English term 'grunt work'. If you are referring to a series of these difficult or unrewarding tasks, you can use the plural form labores pesadas.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɾabaxo pesado/
Did you know?
- In many parts of the Spanish-speaking world, people use the word camello to describe difficult or tedious work. While this literally translates to 'camel', it is used as a slang term for labor in several Latin American countries.
- Spanish allows the word pesado to describe an atmosphere or a mood. A tarde pesada refers to a day that felt long, draining and mentally exhausting.
- The adjective pesado comes from the verb pesar, which means both 'to weigh' and 'to grieve' or 'to be sorry'.
Examples in context
- Necesito a alguien para encargarse de las tareas rutinariasI need someone to take care of the routine tasks
- El proyecto lleva algunas labores tediosas que deben completarseThe project involves some tedious tasks that need to be completed
- Siempre me toca hacer las tareas aburridasI always end up doing the boring tasks
- Paso todo el día realizando trabajos monótonosI spend the whole day doing monotonous tasks
- No quiero hacer todo el trabajo pesado.I don't want to do all the grunt work.
- El trabajo pesado suele ser muy aburrido.The grunt work is usually very boring.
- Primero terminamos el trabajo pesado y luego descansamos.First we finish the grunt work and then we rest.
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are cleaning up after a large event.
- Elena¿Te toca hacer el trabajo pesado hoy?Is it your turn to do the grunt work today?
- AlejandroSí, Elena, tengo que mover todas estas mesas.Yes, Elena, I have to move all these tables.
- ElenaEs un trabajo pesado, pero terminaremos pronto.It is grunt work, but we will finish soon.
- AlejandroEspero que sí, ya estoy muy cansado.I hope so, I am already very tired.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
